The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-01-16

NV ~ voted to admit Tur-
ley to his seat merely
~ because Tur,ey is
knight of Labor
E. A. Armstrong They are said TO have
ulated against the admission of Mr.. Wal
ters because Jones, his Republican CON.
petitor is knight2pf Labor. 1t is pre-
sumable then that, hen the question of adj
hitting Turley to his seat, is finally pre-
sented to the House by the report of the
elections committee, the two labor men
will not judge him too harsbly nor draw
the line 100 stringently against him; and
it need surprise no one to see him finally
seated. In the case of the Mercer district,
it is likely that both will Join hands with
the Republicans in ordering a new election
there. The contest Will be close and ex-
citing one. The fact that Walters is the
first member of the Legislature denied his
seat on the production of his certificate of
election in all the history of the Common
wealth will bring many friends to his aid
in the new contest. He represents the
pottery district, AID during the pottery
strike gave the men engaged in 1t unlimit-
ed credit at his stors. That was one of the
sources of his strength in the November
contest, and will be a sourcs of strength in
the contest which is to come, The district
as 1000 Democratic. It has gore as
high as 800 or 400 the 9TH
er way. in legislative contests. On
both this and the other contested elet-
ton case. the vote es the two labor men will
be decisive. Asst ming that Baird and
Kinney will stana by the Republicans,
Carroll and Donohue's vote viii be needed
to sent MIR. Turley, or to order new cleo
tion in the Trenton district.
ARoUr THE SENATE.
Assuming now that the Democrats sue
coed in arranging matters to their satisfac-
ton in the House, there yet remains the
final problem of the session. Gen. Sewell
is warmly urging the policy of obstructing
the election of Democratic Senator by
failnre to organize the Senate. The United
States statute directs that two weeks after
tina organization of the Legislature, the
Houses shall ballot separately for United
States Senator; and that s'the members of
the Houses shall on the next day assemble
IN joint meeting to ballot again, if the
separate vote in sre Houses does not name
the same candidateA-or if there is an agree
mont to declare the result. The Republi-
cans have not yet made any man Senator
even by swearing in the members elect
The Senators have got together, and the
Clerk has, on motion, adjourned the organ
ization from day to day, They have not
elected any presiding officer. Some of
their faithful lieutenants have even held
possession of the Senate chamber to pre-
/ vent the Democrats from organizing q
minority Senate. This is in purs lance of
Gen. Sewell's policy. 1t meets with the
warm opposition of some Senators who de
clare that if the election of Senator be
| defeated this year by such tactics, they
viii be confronted by an overwhelming
| Democratic majority In both houses next
year but the Sewell idea is potent in spite
of this very sensible protest. 1t is safe to
assume that if the future developments In
the Assembly pave the way for a Democra-
tic Senator, the Republican majority will
not consent to an organization OF the other
branch. The question arises then
whether there has been such an
organization of the Legislature as
the Federal laws would recognize.
and is the j1int meeting legally possible
week from next Tues lay? The Democrats
think that in default of a better organic J.
ton it may be- But, then, if it be possi-
BILE, how is it to be held when the Senate
is not organized to attend it? The Fed
eral laws does not require the Senate to be
there in body. 1t requires the men,
bers' to be on hand. The obligation to
attend joint meeting is an individual one
on the part of each Senator, and the act
gives color to the claim that the Demo-
cratic Senators may attend, without the
companionship of their Republican con-
freres, to assist in the joint ballot and elect
the United States Senator. How many of
the Democratic Senators are qualified to
act under this construction or the law?
Five of the members of the old Senate who
hold over, have taken the oath of Office 1t
has not been administered to the four new
ones yet; ana, under the guide of custom, it
cannot be Administered till the Senate pre-
par to o ganize. 1t is said, however, that
IL Is not necessary that the oath shall be
administered In the Senate Chamber or by
a Senate officer and that any Senator
elect may quslify himself to act by taking
the oath OF office before any Justice eff the
Peace or Supreme Court Justice, or other
official authorized to administer an oath
wherever he may be found. Arthur secretly
b came President of the United States by
swearing IN before Justice iii advance of
the public and formal administration of the
oath to him 10y the Chief Justice under the
eyes of the nation, and it is insisted that
each State Senator has an equal right to
take the oath of Office as unceremonlously
as he pleases. For that matter, Mr.. Walt
ers, the unseated Assemblyman from Mer-
Ger may have right to swear in before a
Justice, and to insist upon recognition at
the joint meeting.
| shall not attempt, as / said at the ooen-
ing of this letter, to gather up the ends of
my suggestions and guesseS, and carry
item out to probable result but have
written enough to show you that those who
nave an interest in the Senatorial contest
Will have plenty to think about for the next